Cidermill Farms is now the only orchard in Essex County that grows apples organically.  The use of the word "organic" refers to the manner in which the apples are grown.  It is a safer, greener way of growing apples that avoids the use of toxins and harmful chemicals.  It assures that what you are putting into your body is as healthy as you think it is supposed to be.

Do you know what is worse than eating apples that are doused with pesticides and herbicides?  Growing them.

It is nice to picture an idyllic, bucolic scene in your mind of a farmer patiently, gently caring for his trees.  But the reality is that if you are a standard commercial apple grower, you have to be prepared to don a virtual hazmat suit, assuring you have heavy rubber gloves as you prepare to put chemicals into your sprayer that cannot even get on your skin.  And then you are supposed to get into a tractor that is enclosed and equipped to condition the air in the cab, through sophisticated filters and coolers, so that you can survive the process of applying all those toxins to the apples you expect people to eat.

When we talked about converting our orchards over to organic growing, there were a number of people that thought that it would be a very difficult transition.  One fellow said to us, "How are you going to do that?  Where are you going to learn the process?"  Well, the answer was quite simple.  All you need is an old farmer's manual from about 1890.  Believe it or not, once upon a time ALL apples were grown organically!

Of course, things have progressed since 1890.  For example, we are now able to hang pherimone strips in trees to discourage moth procreation instead of trying to maintain smokey fires late at night.  The smoke used to make it inconvenient and uncomfortable for the moths to get romantic near the apple trees.  The pherimones we use now just confuse the heck out of them, and they move on to somewhere that seems more conducive to making moth whoopy.

It is a lot of work, but it is surely better than waiting for the moths to get homey in the trees and then zapping them with a highly toxic pesticide!  Especially when you have to apply the pesticides over and over again.

One of our biggest hurdles is educating people about "real" apples.  You would never assume that all women look like the models in a Cosmopolitan magazine just because you flipped through the magazine while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store.  However, there is a presumption that all apples look like the ones that you see in the same grocery store.  The fact is that real apples do not naturally look like the beauties that are all waxed up and shiny in the store displays. 

And not all apples are represented in the store displays.  Did you know that there are more than 700 varieties of apples?  How many different varieties do you see in the grocery store? Probably never more than six.

There is little doubt that apples are one of the most prolific and loved fruits in the world.  They grow almost everywhere.  They are ancient.  Adam and Eve can attest to their biblical stature.  The range in flavour, texture and colour are astounding.  They are versatile.  They are great in sauces, raw or as a seasoning.  They taste great as sweet cider and some varieties make extraordinary hard cider.  Did you know that the definition of "wine" in the Liquor Licence Act of Ontario means the fermented juice of "grapes, apples" or other fruits containing sugar?  Apples are without doubt the most beloved, adaptable, useful and generous fruits in the world.  We just happen to think that we should give them the care, nurturing, and attention that they deserve, without suffocating them in a chemical haze that provides nothing more than surface beauty.  

What can we say?  We do not grow superficial apples.

Varieties:

Paula Red, Royal Gala, Empire, Macintosh, Cortland, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Northern Spy, Ida Red, Red Fuji